Columbus, Ohio — So much was on the line, and the Michigan Wolverines carried themselves all week with confidence, but when it mattered most, their bubble was burst again by arch-rival Ohio State.

The Wolverines top-ranked defense was torched by Ohio State’s offense, which entered the game ranked No. 2 nationally, in a 62-39 rout at Ohio Stadium on Saturday. That’s the most points the Wolverines have allowed since Illinois scored 65 in a triple-overtime loss to Rich Rodriguez-coached Michigan in 2010.

Michigan was ranked No. 4 in the College Football Playoff rankings and was poised to make its first Big Ten championship game.

But that’s no more, taking with it the Wolverines shot at a national playoff berth.

Ohio State has won seven straight and 14 of the last 15 against its nemesis. Michigan is 10-2, and saw its 10-game winning streak snapped, its season bookended by a loss in the season opener and season finale. Ohio State is 11-1, 8-1 and will be the East Division representative in the Big Ten title game next week.

Running back Chris Evans sat alongside receiver Nico Collins at the postgame news conference and was asked what went wrong in the rout.

It was a simple question that received a simple answer.

“The score,” Evans said.

So much went wrong and maybe that was just the easiest way for the Wolverines to sum it all up. After all, the score was glaring.

The Wolverines had crossed off three opponents on the Revenge Tour — Wisconsin, Michigan State and Penn State — and all that was left was Ohio State.

The Buckeyes had 567 yards against Don Brown’s defense that was allowing an average 234.8 yards a game. A defense that coming into the game had held eight of 11 opponents to their lowest yardage total of the season. That’s the most yards the Wolverines have given up since Penn State had 506 last year in their rout of Michigan.

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Michigan senior safety and co-captain Tyree Kinnel said the team was high on confidence, which made Saturday's loss to Ohio State a tough pill to swallow.
Angelique S. Chengelis, The Detroit News

“We made adjustments at halftime,” Michigan senior safety and co-captain Tyree Kinnel said. “We addressed the issues we had in the first half then they came out and beat us with something else in the second half. Credit to them and their coaches. They had a great game plan. They completely beat us today.

“They could really beat us everywhere. Run game, pass game. Everyone’s to blame.”

Ohio State redshirt sophomore quarterback Dwayne Haskins, who has torn up the OSU record books, tore up the Michigan defense, which also entered the game No. 1 in pass defense. Haskins was 19-of-30 for 318 yards and five touchdowns, including two to Chris Olave. Parris Campbell also had a receiving touchdown and a rushing score.

Michigan was fourth in scoring defense allowing an average 13.5 points

“I don't know about (scoring) 62, but I knew we were going to come out and put on a show,” Haskins said. “It started up front with the O-line. And the playmakers made plays. That's what mattered.”

The Wolverines had no pass rush and no quarterback hurries, negated by outstanding protection from Ohio State’s offensive line.

Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh said he took “responsibility” for the loss.

“They got some real speed plays, crossing routes, threw the ball downfield well,” Harbaugh said. “Thought their protection was really good and we didn’t get the pressure on the quarterback that we wanted to.”

Haskins said he plans to take his offensive linemen out for dinner.

“As far as picking up protections, there was no pressures,” he said. “I really had all day in the pocket. I can't complain. The line did a great job. To have a performance like that, try to do it again next week (against Northwestern in the Big Ten title game).”

Conversely, the Wolverines’ offensive line, which had shown improvement this season, gave quarterback Shea Patterson little time to work. Patterson was 20-of-34 for 187 yards and three touchdowns, including two to Collins, and an interception. The Wolverines had 401 yards, including 161 rushing.

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Michigan tight end Zach Gentry lays injured on the field after a play in the third quarter of Saturday's 62-39 loss to Ohio State at Ohio Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 24, 2018 in Columbus, Ohio. Gentry was later diagnosed with a concussion. David Guralnick, Detroit News

Ohio State cornerback Jeffrey Okudah plays to the crowd after Ohio State wide receiver K.J. Hill scored on a 1-yard touchdown pass to make it 55-32 in the fourth quarter. John T. Greilick, Detroit News

Ohio State's Chris Olave (17) celebrates his blocked punt with teammate Binjimen Victor (9). Olave's block was returned for a touchdown by teammate Sevyn Banks in the second half. John T. Greilick, Detroit News

Michigan quarterback Shea Patterson walks off the field at Ohio Stadium after a through defeat at the hands of Ohio State, ending Michigan's 10-game winning streak and hope for a Big Ten title. John T. Greilick, Detroit News

Ohio State running back Mike Weber lunges but is stopped short of the goal line despite teammate Demetrius Knox crushing a Michigan player with a block in the fourth quarter. John T. Greilick, Detroit News

Michigan quarterback Brandon Peters, who was replacing injured starter Shea Patterson, throws a pass down to Michigan running back Chris Evans down to the 1-yard line to set up a fourth-quarter touchdown. John T. Greilick, Detroit News

Michigan running back Chris Evans appears to score on a pass from quarterback Brandon Peters, but he was ruled down at the 1-yard line. Fullback Ben Mason would score on the next play in the fourth quarter. John T. Greilick, Detroit News

Michigan running back Tru Wilson (13) and wide receiver Nico Collins look bitterly disappointed on the visitors sideline after Ohio State's Parris Campbell scored on a 78-yard touchdown run in make it 48-25 in the fourth quarter. John T. Greilick, Detroit News

Michigan defensive lineman Chase Winovich (15) and linebacker Jordan Glasgow (29) fail to block a field goal by Ohio State place kicker Blake Haubeil in the third quarter. The kick made it 27-19. John T. Greilick, Detroit News

Michigan running back Berkley Edwards, who was carted off the field on a stretcher after a vicious hit on special teams last week against Indiana, was dressed in street clothes and his jersey before the game. John T. Greilick, Detroit News

Michigan defensive lineman Chase Winovich warms up before the game. Knocked out of last week's game against Indiana, Winovich appears to be ready to play against the Buckeyes. John T. Greilick, Detroit News

Peter Winovich (wearing a long blond wig) and Nina Winovich, mother and father of Michigan senior defensive lineman Chase Winovich, watch the players warm up before the game. John T. Greilick, Detroit News

Ohio State safety Brendon White intercepts a pass by Michigan backup quarterback Joe Milton in the third quarter. White returned it 49 yards to set up an Ohio State touchdown. John T. Greilick, Detroit News

Ohio State safety Brendon White returns a interception of a pass by Michigan backup quarterback Joe Milton in the third quarter. White returned it 49 yards to set up an Ohio State touchdown. John T. Greilick, Detroit News

Ohio State offensive lineman Thayer Munford (75) and running back Mike Weber (Detroit Cass Tech) are all smiles after Weber's two-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. Weber led the Buckeyes in rushing with 13 carries for 96 yards. John T. Greilick, Detroit News

Ohio State wide receiver Parris Campbell beats Michigan defensive back Brandon Watson for a 16-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter. Campbell led the Buckeyes with six catches for 192 yards and two touchdowns. John T. Greilick, Detroit News

Michigan wide receiver Nico Collins hauls in a pass before being tackled by a pair of Buckeye defenders. Collins led UM receivers with four catches for 91 yards and two touchdowns. John T. Greilick, Detroit News

The Buckeyes even got a special teams score when Will Hart’s punt was blocked and Sevyn Banks went 33 yards for the touchdown with 4:41 left in the third quarter.

Ohio State led 24-19 at halftime and had to settle for a field goal after being stopped at the 2-yard line its second possession of the third quarter.

Just before the punt block, Michigan had an opportunity to cut into the 27-19 lead but tight end Zach Gentry couldn’t make the catch in the end zone and forced the punt.

The Buckeyes had built a 21-6 lead in the first half when things got a bit crazy in the final seconds.

Michigan drove 79 yards on eight plays, including a pass interference that converted a third-and-9 giving the Wolverines the ball at the OSU 38. Patterson connected with Collins, who made a great reception with OSU’s Kendall Sheffield on the coverage, for a 23-yard touchdown with 47 seconds left, cutting into the Buckeyes’ lead, 21-13.

On the ensuing kickoff, Ohio State’s Demario McCall muffed the return and Nate Schoenle secured it for Michigan. Michigan needed one play and added its second score in six seconds, this time on a 9-yard pass from Patterson to Chris Evans to cut OSU’s lead to 21-19. Michigan failed on the two-point conversion.

But the Buckeyes went 74 yards on seven plays in 41 seconds and added a field goal with no time left giving them the 24-19 advantage.

The badly beaten Wolverines bussed home to Ann Arbor shortly after the game, their goals that had been within reach, no longer attainable.

Kinnel suggested maybe they were thinking too far ahead.

“We all had mindsets of going to the Big Ten championship, we all had mindsets of beating Ohio State,” Kinnel said. “I felt like we started having that mindset after the Wisconsin game and beat them, beat Michigan State, beat Penn State.

"We were high on confidence. Maybe we got a little too ahead of us. It’s just tough coming into this big of a game and wanting to win and reach our goals. It’s extremely tough.”